Fannin County Legislation Amended

BLUE RIDGE, GA – After two public readings, the Fannin County Board of Commissioners signed an amendment to local legislation.
The first piece of legislation to be amended will allow the county the option to sell equipment online or at live auctions.

County Chairman Stan Helton explained, “We can sell property online in a competitive auction, which is what is being done more in the marketplace today.”

Commissioners sign legislation change.

Helton clarified that, “It just gives us that option. It doesn’t mean we have to do it.”

The second piece of legislation amended regards the county budget. As it stood, the Board of Commissioners must vote to pass next year’s budget at the first public meeting held in December.

The recently signed amendment gives commissioners the option of passing the yearly budget before the set December date.

Fannin County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Robert Graham was present at the meeting to share that his department, with the help from his Deputy Director, had been awarded a grant from Homeland Security.

The grant, in the amount of $37,750.00, will be used to purchase equipment for the mobile command unit.

Post 2 Commissioner Larry Joe Sosebee questioned, “Will this amount of money take care of what you need for your mobile unit? Will it supply it entirely?”

Graham confirmed that when applying for the grant, a list of equipment had been given, and that the grant will fully fund that list. Graham was pleased that Fannin County had been awarded the grant and stated, “They’re (Homeland Security Grants) hard to come by.”

Along with the good news of being awarded a homeland security grant, Graham also shared that Whitfield County had donated equipment to Fannin County.

EMA Director Robert Graham discusses Homeland Security Grant.

Whitfield recently changed the frequency in which they operate. This change made much of their equipment obsolete. Among the equipment received from Whitfield County was numerous mobile radios, three repeaters, and 39 portable radios.

Graham stated that the equipment donated was “in excess of $20,000 to $25,000” in value.

Chief Land Development Officer Marie Woody gave Commissioners an update on the Scrap Tire Removal Program. The program has been successful, and Woody stated, “We have collected 1,736 scrap tires to this point. The funds are there to extend this program.”

Commissioners voted unanimously to extend the collection program through the month of November and is now allowing for the collection of tractor and large truck tires.

The Board of Commissioners will hold their next public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.

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